The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Casa Estela is a family-run hostel located near the airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and the main gateway to the Galápagos Islands. It is not really a backpacker spot, but many travelers stop there for one or two nights before flying to the Galápagos.
The Location
As mentioned, the hostel is located near the bus station and the airport. It takes around thirty minutes' walking or ten minutes with a taxi to reach it. It is located in a quiet street that looks a bit insecure at night. To go to the center, you need to take a taxi or go back to the bus station and get a bus.
Rooms and Bathrooms
It is a really small hostel, run by the owner, who sleeps on the sofa in the common area. It has private and dorm rooms; dorms have bunk beds and can host up to twenty people. Rooms are just fine, but mattresses are not particularly comfy or new (the same goes for bedsheets). Lockers are not available, so you feel insecure leaving stuff there. Bathrooms are inside each room, with toilets and showers separated. Hot water is available.
The owner has a big dog that lives in the house and sometimes gets even inside the rooms. The dog is not always clean, and sometimes rooms and especially common areas have an unpleasant smell. Bathrooms are better cleaned, as the dog doesn’t enter them.
Common Spaces
Not much common space is available in the hostel. There is one large sofa where the owner lives and sleeps, so guests don’t really feel comfortable to spend any time there. A kitchen is available for guests, and it is the kitchen of the owner. Generally speaking, this hostel is the owner's house and he just put a few beds on the first floor. There is also an area outside with chairs and tables, but the dog is always there jumping on people or asking for food, so many guests may not feel relaxed or comfortable to stay there. It is a very small structure with usually few guests and almost no common areas, so it is very difficult to meet other people. The vibe is quiet and everybody seems to care about their own things.
Summary
This family-run place is ok only for a night before taking a flight from Guayaquil. The location next to the airport is definitely a plus, but after that the hostel doesn’t have much to offer. If you don’t love dogs, this place is definitely not an option.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
+3
Marioilnero
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Aug 14, 2019
Location and Contact
Location
• Its a minimum fee to take a taxi from the airport/terminal, the registered taxi inside the terminal will cost you 3 dollars, and around 4-5 dollars from the airport. we do provide pick up services too. and its 3 dollars from the terminal, and 5 dollars from the airport. • The exact address is Acuarela del Rio, MZ 1146 Solar 5B • It's around 200 meters to the east of the police station of Acuarela de Rio. • And the cross street is Calle 16A NE and 2do Pasaje 5NE